Ivor Callely (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 283: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the allocation for suicide prevention; the breakdown of the allocation of such funds; the additional services that have been put in place to assist in early identification of suicidal behaviour and to provide support and treatment; the additional services to be put in place; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41337/06]

Tim O'Malley (Limerick East, Progressive Democrats)
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In the region of €835 million will be spent on mental health services in 2006. This includes an additional €26.2 million allocated for the further development of our mental health services, €1.2 million of which was allocated specifically for suicide prevention initiatives.

In 2005 the National Office for Suicide Prevention (NOSP) was established by the Health Service Executive to oversee the implementation of "Reach Out", the National Strategy for Action on Suicide Prevention 2005-2014. This Office is responsible for the implementation of the Strategy and provides support to groups and organisations for their work in the development of suicide prevention initiatives.

Operational responsibility for the management and delivery of health and personal social services was assigned to the Health Service Executive under the Health Act 2004. Therefore, the Executive is the appropriate body to consider the particular matter raised by the Deputy. My Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to have the matter investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.